I think it would be interesting if we could see the real shape of your favourite crossing marked on the road. It’d probably help more people cross and traffic get stopped less. And, hopefully, no casualties.

Our senses are built to take in information at human pace

The real shape of a crossing

Sure the big city is worse than the country. But the reality is back streets in a big city are significantly better than the busy streets in a big city, and air pollution changes massively even for small children down at the height of exhausts versus adults standing higher.

So if you’re not about to move to the country you could help yourself a lot nonetheless by taking the back streets (I read this premise in Focus magazine, but can’t find an online link to reference).

Pollution is highly localized: take the back streets

I believe I first heard this on a Radiolab episode, but I can’t remember for sure. Since hearing it, I’ve reflected on it many times and can’t help but think there’s some truth in it. For me it’s kind of why we’re just not that good at processing the scenery whizzing by from a car or train, and why cycling and walking are just about the best ways of getting around. Alain de Boton, in The Art of Travel, has some great observations about why trains are so great for thinking which I think has a lot to do with this - we have time to think, with a helpful intermission of the  semi-connected landscape and houses passing by that we can only process for so long before we turn back to our thoughts. I love trains.

Spent many battles with the London bikes before learning this simple trick.

Sketchplanations tagged with bike